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COVID-19 Funding Opportunities
Current COVID-19 funding opportunities are available on our website.
National Funding Opportunities
Canadian Environmental Initiatives Funded
The Gosling Foundation
The Gosling Foundation aims to support transformation of the nature sector to enable it to protect and restore biodiversity for the benefit of all. The Foundation’s interests include projects that 1) enhance the capacity of nature organizations to address the biodiversity crisis; 2) include conservation actions inspired by an appreciation for nature; 3) protect ecologically significant land; and 4) develop and apply youth and adult initiative, skills, and knowledge in aid of nature. Support is primarily provided through the following funding streams: Better Organizations for Nature, for organizations seeking to enhance their capacity through Engagement Organizing practices, and Passport to Nature Festivals, for organizations seeking to recruit supporters and generate income through nature festival events. Other funding areas include Nature Inspires Climate Action; Plant Protection Through Technology; and Land Acquisition, Protection, and Restoration. The Foundation will also consider innovative projects outside these funding streams that fit within its mandate. Proposals can be submitted at any time and are considered at least quarterly: January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 of each year. Visit the Foundation’s website to learn more about the funding areas.
Support for Efforts to Address Local Needs
Eli Lilly Canada: Grants Program
Eli Lilly Canada’s Grants Program provides philanthropic support to Canadian registered charities. Funding is provided to organizations that address local community needs, such as food banks, women’s shelters, and organizations supporting the underprivileged. There is no deadline to apply; applications are reviewed on a monthly basis. Visit the Eli Lilly Canada website to apply via the online system.
Food Donations Benefit Organizations Across Canada
Second Harvest: Food Rescue Program
Second Harvest is a Canadian food rescue organization that works across the supply chain from farm to retail to capture surplus food before it ends up in the landfill. Second Harvest’s food rescue program supports nonprofit and charitable partners across Canada by providing them access to healthy surplus food from food donor partners. Registered charities and nonprofit organizations that provide food to their community can apply to become part of the network. Examples of eligible partners include, but are not limited to, community organizations, after-school and breakfast programs, senior residences, food banks and hamper programs, shelters and transitional homes, meal program and drop-in centers, summer camps, and remote fly-in communities. Organizations across Canada can join Second Harvest's network of partners by registering via the food rescue app. Organizations working in the Toronto, Ontario, area can apply for the direct delivery or pickup program waitlist. There is no registration or application deadline. Visit the Second Harvest website to learn more and to join the network.
Giving Program Supports Arts, Environment, Health, and Innovation Initiatives
Canon Canada Donations and Sponsorships Program
Canon Canada supports Canadian organizations by providing project support or prizes for their fundraising initiatives. Donations are provided for Canadian-based registered charities and nonprofit organizations whose work and efforts are executed in Canada. Support is provided in the following areas: 1) Arts/Culture, including photography programs, education, museums, theaters, and art galleries; 2) Environmental, including local and national environmental initiatives; 3) Healthcare and Medical Initiatives, including hospital fundraisers and health walks or runs; and 4) Innovation, including digital imagery. Brand sponsorships and product sponsorships are also available. Organizations eligible for sponsorships include registered charities, nonprofit organizations, businesses, government, and public entities. There is no deadline to apply. Visit the Canon Canada website to submit an online application for one of the three types of support.
Regional Funding Opportunities
Grants Strengthen the Capacity of BC First Nations
New Relationship Trust
The New Relationship Trust (NRT) is dedicated to strengthening First Nations in British Columbia through capacity building. Grants are currently available in the following capacity development areas: The Nation Building Program supports First Nations and Tribal Councils in BC to complete projects that strengthen their community. The Elders Grant Initiative supports Elders groups, organizations, and First Nation communities representing Elders. The Youth Grant Initiative supports First Nation youth groups and organizations in BC, including efforts to revive First Nation languages. The Equity Matching and Funding for First Nations Communities programs support new or expanding First Nations businesses and communities in BC. Applications are open from June 1, 2021, until funds are exhausted or December 7, 2021. The guidelines for each open funding area are available on the NRT website.
Funding Targets Rural Alberta Communities
Rural Communities Foundation
The Rural Communities Foundation supports rural Alberta communities where United Farmers of Alberta Co-operative (UFA) has a presence. Grants are provided for initiatives that enrich the rural life of agricultural, farming, and ranching community members who live within 200km of a UFA location. Funding areas consist of cultural facilities and programs as well as recreational or educational events and activities. Eligible applicants include registered charities, registered nonprofit organizations, and community service cooperatives. The deadline to apply is August 31, 2021. Visit the Foundation’s website to download the application and guidelines.
Support for Agriculture and Construction Industry Initiatives in Selected Provinces
Rocky Mountain Equipment Corporate Giving Program
Rocky Mountain Equipment provides support in company communities across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba through two programs. The Community Investment program supports organizations and community groups that contribute to the strengthening of the agricultural and construction industry in company communities. Interests include agriculture and construction advocacy, safety, and youth development. The RME Right by You Ag Society Grant program supports agricultural societies in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba implementing various projects and initiatives that directly impact those in the community. Applications for the Community Investment program may be submitted at any time. The deadline to apply for the RME Right by You Ag Society Grant is July 30, 2021. Visit the company’s website to review the guidelines for each program.
Giving Program Targets Vancouver Area Communities
Port of Vancouver Community Investment
The Port of Vancouver Community Investment program supports projects and initiatives that align with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority's vision of making the Port of Vancouver the world's most sustainable port. Applications are accepted in the following focus areas: 1) Healthy Environment, including air and climate action, biodiversity, land, and water; and 2) Thriving Communities, including basic needs, safe neighborhoods, job training, barrier-free opportunities, and public events and arts/culture initiatives that focus on fostering community connections. Grants and sponsorships are provided. Priority is given to projects and initiatives that serve the communities within close proximity to port operations. Eligible communities include Belcarra, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Delta, Langley, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, Surrey, Vancouver, the districts of North and West Vancouver, Musqueam Indian Band, Squamish Nation, Tsawwassen First Nation, and Tsleil-Waututh Nation. The remaining application deadlines for this year are July 15 and September 30, 2021. Visit the Port’s website to apply online.
Government Funding Opportunities
Affordable Housing Solutions Sought
Impact Canada
The Housing Supply Challenge invites citizens, stakeholders, and experts from across Canada to propose innovative solutions to the barriers that limit the creation of new housing. $300 million in funding is available through the various rounds of the Challenge, resulting in new ideas and solutions that will help more people find an affordable place to call home. For the current funding round, applicants are invited to propose locally relevant solutions that improve the pre-development process for housing that is affordable. Initial submissions are due by August 25, 2021.
Grants to Address the Social Determinants of Health
Public Health Agency of Canada
The Intersectoral Action Fund supports communities to build capacity for intersectoral action on the social determinants of health. Funding is provided to 1) identify priority areas for collective action on social determinants of health and well-being; 2) foster transformative partnerships to facilitate action on social determinants of health and well-being; and 3) build capacity to take action on social determinants of health and well-being. Grants between $25,000 and $250,000 are provided. The deadline to submit a Funding Request Form is July 12, 2021.
PathFinder: Featured Resource
A library of quality resources designed to help you develop your career path as a grants professional
2021 State of Civil Society Report
A new report by CIVICUS entitled the 2021 State of Civil Society Report analyzes how contemporary events and trends are impacting on civil society and how civil society is responding to the major issues and problems of the day. This is the tenth edition of the report, which focuses on civil society action and developments in 2020, looks back over ten years of civil society activity, and highlights key ideas for action in civil society in 2021 and beyond. The report covers topics such as the global struggle for racial justice, democracy under the pandemic, and demands for economic and environmental justice.
Upcoming Online Education Trainings
Live Webinars
Unless otherwise noted, all Online Education Trainings are webinars,
are 90 minutes in duration, and are scheduled to begin at 2 PM Eastern Time.
Are You Ready for a Capital Campaign?
Six Vital Questions to Ask Before You Launch
Expanding or improving your organization's infrastructure can drastically improve your ability to serve the community and fulfill your mission. But where do you start? The best way to start is by asking and answering six vital questions designed to prepare you to raise the capital campaign funds you need. This careful pre-planning will help you secure the support of your board, establish a reliable budget, and create your timeline.
In this webinar you will learn to:
develop a quantifiable benefit to your project;
determine if you need a feasibility study; and,
decide if you need to hire a consultant.
Explore these questions with real-world examples gleaned from the CampaignCounsel.org team’s more than 15 years of capital campaign fundraising experience. With plenty of time for your questions, you’ll learn how your organization can benefit when you take steps at the outset to prepare for your successful capital campaign. This webinar will be held on Wednesday, July 14, 2021.
Leading in Challenging Economic Times (NEW)
How to Survive—and Thrive—in a Tough Economy
As the executive director, director of operations, chief financial officer, or senior leader of a nonprofit organization, you have a difficult job balancing the demands of programmatic achievement, fundraising, long-term strategic planning, and managing people. In times of economic distress, your job becomes even more difficult as your focus shifts from growth to sustaining the current budget. By using a risk-based approach to leading, you can make your job easier. In this session, Dr. Anthony Silard will begin by examining the key characteristics of successful leaders in tough economic times. You will then learn some innovative fundraising strategies and design creative new ways to leverage resources for your cause. You will also find out how effective leaders manage people with fewer resources, adopt a healthy relationship toward risk, keep staff morale high in the face of cutbacks, and leverage financial resources and board involvement in a tough economy. The seminar will be held on Thursday, July 15, 2021.
Exploring Social Entrepreneurship (NEW)
This webinar will give participants an introduction to the concept of social enterprise and how to employ business principles to make social change. Mindy Muller, President/CEO of Community Development Professionals, LLC, will discuss using social enterprise to raise funds within nonprofits, as for-profit businesses, and how to create a business to employ the hardest to serve residents of a community. This training is appropriate for people interested in launching a mission-driven business, nonprofits considering raising money through social enterprise, or others interested in learning more about applying business principles in mission-driven work.
Participants will have the opportunity to:
develop working knowledge of concepts of social enterprise and entrepreneurship;
learn various business structures of social enterprise; and,
explore how to increase organizational impact through deployment of social enterprise constructs. This webinar will be held on Thursday, July 22, 2021.
GrantStation Announcements
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The free State of Grantseeking Report spotlights recent developments in funding so that organizations can be more strategic in their grantseeking.
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Funding Alerts
More funding opportunities are featured on the GrantStation homepage. Click here to see the grantmakers spotlighted this week!
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Editor: Diana Holder
Contributing Writer: Ashlyn Simmons